Jan. 25 Full Moon
The full Moon occurs today at 2:32am. January’s full Moon is
known by several names, including Old Moon and Moon After Yule. The
cold, silvery moon is the perfect astronomical accompaniment to a
mid-winter’s night, casting an icy glare across the landscape.
Jan. 25 Full Moon
The full Moon occurs today at 2:32am. January’s full Moon is known by several names, including Old Moon and Moon After Yule. The cold, silvery moon is the perfect astronomical accompaniment to a mid-winter’s night, casting an icy glare across the landscape.
Jan. 26 Moon and Regulus
The Moon passes through Leo, the lion, the next couple of nights. Tonight, it’s only a few degrees from Leo’s brightest star, Regulus, which represents the lion’s heart.
Jan. 27 Big Dipper
The Big Dipper stands high in the northeast this evening. Look closely at the second star from the end of its handle, Mizar. If you have dark skies and sharp eyesight, you should see a faint companion close to it, called Alcor.
Jan. 28 Pictor
Pictor, the painter’s easel, is visible from the far-southern United States this month, although it’s tough to see. Look for nearby Canopus, the second-brightest star in the night sky. It appears due south, just above the horizon, around 10pm.
Jan. 29 Moon and Jupiter
Look near the Moon tonight for the planet Jupiter. It looks like a brilliant cream-colored star, although it far outshines any of the true stars in our night sky. Jupiter rises below the Moon and follows the Moon across the sky during the night.
Jan. 30 More Moon and Jupiter
Jupiter, the largest planet of our solar system, huddles close to the Moon tonight. It looks like a brilliant star. It is just to the lower left of the Moon as they rise in late evening, and to its upper right at dawn.
Jan. 31 Moon, Jupiter, and Spica
Look for the Moon at first light tomorrow. The bright star to its right is Spica, the brightest star of Virgo. And a little to Spica’s upper right is the planet Jupiter, the brightest star-like point of light in the night sky right now.
